Pantomime sales up
Ticket sales for Christmas shows are up for the third year running.
Figures are in for the 2011/2012 panto season at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, and show that Snow White attracted almost 17,000 audience members.
EastEnder Sid Owen led the thigh slapping as the handsome Prince Ricky, alongside West End star Lucy Williamson in the Qdos production.
In 2010 Jimmy Osmond pulled in a crowd of 16,178 and Aladdin the year before still managed an impressive 12,118.
Lead member for Leisure at Hastings Borough Council, councillor Trevor Webb, said:
"This is fantastic news and shows that our theatre is going from strength to strength. This year is Peter Pan, so I'm already looking forward to hearing that even more people have enjoyed this classic.
"I'm also very impressed with the line-up for this year. There's a fantastic mix of shows for all the family, from adult stand-up to Fireman Sam and everything in between!
"Despite very hard economic times, the theatre has opted for quality shows providing year round entertainment. It's good to see some familiar names, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, alongside the youth theatre project and of course the Osmonds on their final tour."
To find out what's going on at the theatre, visit: www.whiterocktheatre.org.uk or call the box office on 01424 462288.
Town speaks up and speaks out
Several hundred people attended Saturday's Holocaust Memorial Day Service held at St Mary in the Castle. The event was organised by Hastings and District Jewish Society, Christian Friends of Israel and the Council and of Christians and Jews, with support from Hastings Borough Council.
The theme was 'Speak Up, Speak Out', and started with Martin Niemoller's famous reading 'First They Came'. Leader of Hastings Borough Council, Cllr Jeremy Birch, said:
This was a very moving service.
"The short DVD of their trip to Auschwitz by Billie and Hermione of Parkwood Sixth Form was very powerful, as were the other speakers. We were graphically reminded that atrocities still happen today by our colleague Alex N'Tung who spoke about his experiences in Africa.
"And appropriately this year, we were reminded that the Paralympic Games were started at Stoke Mandeville by Ludwig Guttman, himself a Jew and a refugee from the Nazi regime.
"I thought the event made the point that there have been, and still are, many victims of persecution, and I would like to thank everybody involved with putting it on, especially Brian Linke, who spent a lot of time helping to organise the event, the Rev Chris Sears, who hosted it, and Barbara Rogers for the excellent arrangements at St Mary in the Castle."
Kitchen staff make the grade
Celebrations abounded during an event to celebrate the Chinese new year last weekend.
Alongside the dancing and martial arts display in Priory Meadow on Sunday, kitchen staff from Chinese restaurants across the town received their CIEH Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering.
Eighteen employees from 14 businesses took the one-day course aimed at food handlers. The course was delivered in both Mandarin and Cantonese and candidates took a one-hour exam at the end.
The training took place on 28 November at the Stade Hall and was delivered by Susanna Mann.
Councillor Phil Scott, lead member for the Environment, handed out certificates along with the Mayor. He said:
"Congratulations to everyone who took the course. Sunday was a double celebration in this respect and I was very pleased to be able to hand out these certificates to these staff members who work so hard behind the scenes."
Town blueprint – have your say
Where should new houses be built or new employment sites be located over the next 16 years? That's what Hastings Borough Council is asking local residents to comment on.
A series of exhibitions are being organised over the next month from The Bridge Community Centre in the east of the borough to Tilekiln Community Centre in the west. It also includes a whole day in Priory Meadow on 03 March. The exhibitions will give everyone the chance to look at options for development sites, chat to planners and pass on their views.
Councillor Peter Chowney, lead councillor for Regeneration and Planning, said:
"This is only one stage of consulting residents on possible development sites. Following this informal consultation we will then agree a preferred set of sites and that then goes out for a formal 12-week consultation later in the year. Finally it goes to a public enquiry in front of a planning inspector.
"The final document, the Development Management Plan, will then be adopted by the council to guide future developments towards the end of next year.
"At this stage residents can come along to the exhibition, they can comment on the council website or just write in. If anyone thinks additional exhibitions are needed in other parts of town or would like a planner to come to their local community meeting let us know and we will see what we can do.
"In fact we are doing far more than our statutory duty in this consultation and more than other councils are, so I do hope local people will take advantage of this opportunity."
Visit our Consultation page for further information.
Time to update your postal vote?
Postal voters who have had their postal vote for five years or more are being asked to refresh their signatures, in order to continue voting by post at upcoming elections.
Hastings Borough Council is required to collect a fresh signature every five years, by law.
Signatures change over time and the new version will be used to make sure no-one else is able to use your vote. They are kept separate from the ballot paper, so no-one will know how you have voted.
This week, affected postal voters will receive a signature refresh form and a pre-paid envelope to send the form back in.
A council spokesman said:
"Please help us save money by signing the form in black ink and sending it back to us as soon as possible so we don’t have to send you a reminder. If we don't receive a response after six weeks, your absent vote will be cancelled. You will still be able to vote in person at a polling station or you may submit a new absent vote application form. You can apply for a new postal vote up to 11 working days before an election."
If you now cannot sign, or cannot sign in the same way every time, but still want to vote by post, you can apply to keep your postal vote without giving your signature. For more information and to find out how to apply, please contact the Electoral Services office on 01424 451087.
Meet the artists
Come along to Hastings Museum and Art Gallery and hear first hand from artists during a personal tour.
Talented jewellers currently exhibiting in the Rooms for Ideas show will be talking about their work and inspiration on Saturday, 04 February and tickets are now available.
They will discuss the unique nature of the project; each piece was inspired by a room in the museum and conversation will include the types of materials used and the method of allocating rooms – drawn from a hat!
There will also be opportunities for questions over tea and cake (included in the ticket price).
Tickets are £4 and are available from the museum reception or by contacting Catherine Harvey on 01424 451904 or email charvey@hastings.gov.uk
The Rooms for Ideas exhibition continues until 19 February.
Visit www.hmag.org.uk for further information.
Up-cycle your jewels at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery
Join in the latest craze for up-cycling and create fabulous new jewellery from all those broken bits and bobs with simple ideas and a little creative thinking.
Everyone has things they no longer wear, so why not bring them to the Museum on Saturday, 11 February between 1.30pm and 3.30pm and see how you can transform them? It's free and all ages are welcome.
This workshop will be led by Jo McAllister and Paula Thittichai, two of the jewellers currently exhibiting their own work in the exhibition 'Rooms For Ideas'.
For more information, please contact Catherine Harvey on 01424 451904 or email charvey@hastings.gov.uk
Seagull proof refuse bags
Following the Waste Advisory Group's recommendation Hastings Borough Council will trial seagull proof bags at three locations in the town.
There will be up to 500 households in the trial and it will be roughly divided within the central St Leonards, Bohemia, Castle and Tressell areas. Before starting the trial there will be community meetings to explain the scheme and its objectives.
Councillor Phil Scott, lead member for environment said:
"While seagulls are very much part of our seaside town we need to do everything we can to stop the mess they cause when they attack bags. Streets strewn with litter are not acceptable and these new sacks will go a long way in preventing this problem.
"They are very strong; strong enough to withstand attacks from gulls and foxes. They are also a good size and residents should find them large enough to easily contain household rubbish. I would like to thank residents who are taking part in this trial I hope we can continue to work together for a cleaner town.
"These special bags will help protect rubbish from gulls and other vermin, therefore reducing the amount of litter on the street. The bags are easy to store between collections and have been very effective in other towns."
